LAWRENCE PYNE: NEXT ON "OUTDOOR JOURNAL," WE JOIN A LEASH DOG TRACKER AND DISCOVER HOW THESE DEDICATED TRAINERS AND THEIR DOGS TURN HUNTER NIGHTMARES INTO SUCCESS STORIES.

THEN WE GET A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT A BLACK RACER AS RESEARCHERS TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS RARE SNAKE'S HABITAT NEEDS.

MARIANNE EATON: AND WE ENJOY A DAY HIKE IN THE FALL WOODS WITH A PACK OF LLAMAS THAT NOT ONLY ENJOY CARRYING THE LOAD, THEY MAKE GOOD COMPANY AS WELL.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRAN FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> STRONG FISH.

>> WAHOO!

>> EVERY HUNTER STRIVES TO MAKE PERFECT SHOTS THAT LEAD TO QUICK, HUMANE KILLS, BUT EVEN AFTER MONTHS OF PRACTICE, THINGS CAN GO WRONG WHEN THE MOMENT OF TRUTH ARRIVES.

SHOOTING A DEER OR BEAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RECOVER IT, IT'S A HUNTER'S WORST NIGHTMARE.

UNTIL RECENTLY, THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, BUT THANKS TO A GROUP OF DETERMINED VOLUNTEERS, HELP CAN NOW BE HAD FROM MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

LEASH DOG TRACKING OF WOUNDED BIG GAME IS AN AGE-OLD TRADITION IN EUROPE, AND IT'S NOW AVAILABLE TO HUNTERS IN VERMONT AND A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES IN NORTH AMERICA.

TIM NICHOLS: IT'S A SIMPLE SYSTEM.

WHAT WE DO IS JUST START OUT WITH A DEER TAIL AND JUST START PLAYING WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE PUPPIES, AND THEN WE EVENTUALLY PUT A LITTLE BIT OF DEER BLOOD ON IT AND JUST DRAG IT AROUND.

AND IT'S MORE OR LESS A GIANT HIDE AND SEEK GAME.

LAWRENCE PYNE: VERMONT NATIVE, TIM NICHOLS, HAS BEEN HANDLING DOGS SINCE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AFTER YEARS OF TRAINING COON HOUNDS AND RABBIT DOGS, HIS CURRENT PASSION IS TRAINING DOGS TO TRACK WOUNDED DEER AND BEAR, AND HE NOW RUNS A LEASH DOG TRACKING SERVICE OUT OF HIS HOME IN GRANVILLE, NEW YORK.

>> WHEN WE'RE OUT TRACKING A WOUNDED ONE THERE'S BLOOD THAT WE CAN SE SOMETIMES, BUT THEN THERE'S ACTUALLY BLOO SCENT THAT COMES OFF THE OPE WOUND ON A DEER OR BEAR, IT'S KIND OF A MIST THAT A HUMAN CAN'T SEE WITH HIS EYE, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT THE DOG TO PICK UP MORE AND MORE OF.

>> ONCE THAT GOES OVER HIS HEAD, IT PUTS HIM INTO ACTION.

LAWRENCE PYNE: LEASH DOG TRACKERS ARE MOST OFTEN CALLED INTO ACTION BY HUNTERS WHO HAVE SHOT AN ANIMAL THAT LEAVES A POOR OR NONEXISTENT BLOOD TRAIL BECAUSE OF WET WEATHER OR THE LOCATION WHERE THE ANIMAL WAS HIT.

>> PAUNCH SHOTS AND THE RAIN SHOTS ARE ACTUALLY THE TWO BEST THAT YOU CAN GET.

THE PAUNCH WILL SOMETIMES ACTUALLY CLOG THE HOLE.

WHAT YOU GET OUT OF THAT IS ACTUALLY BLOOD SCENT WHICH IS FROM THE OPEN WOUND, AND THAT'S ALL YOU GET, SO IT'S VERY TOUGH FOR A HUMAN TO TRACK, BUT FOR A DOG IT'S LIKE WALKING IN FRONT OF HIM WITH A HOT APPLE PIE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: ONE OF THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFULLY TRAINING A TRACKING DOG IS MIXING UP THE TRAIL AND TRAINING AT A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS SO THAT THE DOG IS ALWAYS CHALLENGED.

AS TRAINING PROGRESSES, THE TRAIL BECOMES MORE COMPLEX.

TIM NICHOLS: WE DO BACKTRACKS, WE DO FIGURE 8s, WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A DEER IS GOING TO DO.

WAIT A DAY, OR TWO, OR THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR DAYS, BRING THE DOG OUT, PUT HIM ON THE BEGINNING AND PROCEED OUT.

AND ONCE HE FINDS IT, ALWAYS GIVE HIM THE REWARD AND ALWAYS PLAY WITH HIM SO HE THINKS IT'S A GAME.

EVERY TIME YOU GO OUT IT'S A GAME.

>> YEAH, GOOD BOY.

ALL RIGHT, MAC.

LAWRENCE PYNE: USING SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS TO HELP HUNTERS FIND WOUNDED GAME HAS ITS ROOTS IN CENTRAL EUROPE WHERE IT HAS BEEN PRACTICED FOR CENTURIES.

TIM NICHOLS: IN GERMANY THE TRADITION THERE IS IF A HUNTER SHOOTS AN ANIMAL AND IT JUST TAKES OFF, THE HUNTER'S NOT ALLOWED TO GO AFTER A WOUNDED ANIMAL WITHOUT THE DOG.

IN VERMONT IT'S THE LAST RESORT, BUT IN GERMANY IT'S THE FIRST RESORT.

LAWRENCE PYNE: LEASH DOG TRACKING WAS INTRODUCED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1986 WHEN A HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO STUDIED IN EUROPE CONVINCED NEW YORK LAWMAKERS TO LEGALIZE THE PRACTICE.

VERMONT WAS THE SECOND STATE TO LEGALIZE LEASH DOG TRACKING IN 1996, BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

DOG HANDLERS LIKE TIM HAD TO OVERCOME MORE THAN A CENTURY OF TRADITION THAT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS THE HOUNDING OF DEER.

TIM NICHOLS: IT'S VERY ILLEGAL TO HUNT DEER IN VERMONT STATE WITH DOGS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY RECOVERING WOUNDED DEER.

ONCE EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD, THEN IT TOOK OFF.

IN 1996 BILL H61 PASSED.

GOVERNOR HOWARD DEAN SIGNED IT.

FROM THERE ON IN WE'VE GOT 31 PEOPLE NOW DOING IT IN THE STATE OF VERMONT, AND THIS YEAR, 2004, WE'VE BROKE ALL RECORDS.

WE FOUND 42 DEER AND 3 BEAR SO FAR.

LAWRENCE PYNE: YOU MUST BE LICENSED TO TRACK DEER WITH A DOG IN VERMONT, AND YOU HAVE TO PASS A TEST ADMINISTERED BY THE VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN THAT LICENSE.

ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES FOR LEASH DOG TRACKERS IS ARCHERY SEASON.

TODD WHITAKER OF SHELBURNE, VERMONT, AND HIS YELLOW LAB, COOPER, HAVE BEEN TRACKING DEER FOR 6 SEASONS.

>> IT'S A BIG COMMITMENT IF YOU DO IT FULL TIME.

I'LL GIVE UP MY BOW HUNTING TO GO OUT ON A CALL JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HUNTER THAT'S CALLING HAS GOT THAT FEELING IN HIS STOMACH, THAT SICK FEELING OF LOSING A DEER.

WE'LL TRACK FROM 24 HOURS A DAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME.

GIVE US A CALL, MIDNIGHT, 1, 2, 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

NORMALLY PEOPLE GO HOME AND GE SOME SLEEP AND THEN CALL IN THE MORNING BUT THEY CAN CALL 24 HOURS A DAY.

WE'LL BE AVAILABLE.

>> THERE'S MY STAND RIGHT THERE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: ON THIS CALL VETERAN BOW HUNTER, STEVE LEFFLER, HIT A DEER IN THE PAUNCH EARLY IN THE MORNING.

HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT HE WOULD NEED THE HELP OF A LEASH DOG TRACKER BECAUSE STOMACH SHOTS, WHILE INVARIABLY FATAL, RARELY LEAVE A BLOOD TRAIL TO FOLLOW.

>> PEOPLE THAT ARE BOW HUNTERS WHO REALLY LOVE TO BOW HUNT, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE TEXTBOOK HITS.

NO ONE WANTS TO HIT A DEER IN THE WRONG SPOT.

NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE TO CALL TODD TO GET HIM OUT OF WORK AND COME OUT HERE, BUT WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE CAN RECOVER THOSE OTHER ANIMALS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE WASTED.

STEVE LEFFLER: HERE'S THE ARROW, TODD.

I THINK I HIT HER BACK A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHERE I WANTED TO, AND THAT'S HOW SHE ACTED WHEN SHE WALKED AWAY FROM ME.

TODD WHITAKER: SHE MUST HAVE BEEN ALL HUNCHED UP.

STEVE LEFFLER: SHE WAS HUNCHED UP AND MOVING SLOWLY.

IT WAS A PURE PASSTHROUGH.

YOU CAN SEE SOME WHITE HAIR BACK HERE WHERE I THINK IT WENT OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE DEER AND THERE'S WHITE HAIR ON THE GROUND WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT UP THERE.

TODD WHITAKER: THIS TELLS ME YOU HIT IT PROBABLY MIDDLE OF THE DEER FAR BACK THAN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE, BUT IT HAPPENS, AND WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF FINDING THIS DEER, I BELIEVE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: AFTER STEVE EXPLAINED THE DETAILS OF THE HUNT, INCLUDING THE LOCATION OF THE HIT AND THE DIRECTION THE DEER RAN OFF, IT WAS TIME FOR TODD TO PUT COOPER ON THE TRAIL.

TODD WHITAKER: FIND IT.

HE SOMETIMES CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.

BEING A LAB, HE LIKES TO USE THE WIND, SO INSTEAD OF STAYING RIGHT ON THE TRAIL, HE MIGHT BE WINDING IT AND CUTTING OFF TRYING TO CUT THE TRAIL.

THAT, TO ME, IS VERY HARD TO LET HIM DO THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE TRAIL'S GOING THIS WAY, BUT HE WANTS TO GO THIS WAY.

STILL I'M LEARNING TO TRUST THE DOG.

LET THE DOG DO THE WORK.

TRUST HIS NOSE.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP ANY BLOOD.

LAWRENCE PYNE: WITH ALMOST NO VISIBLE BLOOD TRAIL, FINDING STEVE'S DEER TRULY DEPENDED ON COOPER'S KEEN NOSE.

AS COOPER AND TODD WOUND THROUGH THE WOODS, STEVE AND HIS DAUGHTER EMILY FOLLOWED CLOSE BEHIND, THEIR FINGERS CROSSED.

STEVE LEFFLER: IT'S HARD TO TELL WHEN THE DOG IS REALLY ON THE TRAIL.

IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES THE DOG IS JUST WANDERING AROUND AND YOU'RE THINKING HE'S NEVER GOING TO FIND THE TRAIL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'LL SEE HIM REALLY HOOK ONTO IT AND HE'S PULLING REALLY HARD, AND THEN YOU MIGHT SEE A DROP OF BLOOD SOMEWHERES IN THERE THAT CONFIRMS NOW THE DOG IS REALLY ON IT.

LAWRENCE PYNE: TRACKING DEER IS SELDOM EASY AND INVARIABLY INVOLVES NEGOTIATING RUGGED TERRAIN, OFTEN DURING COLD, WET WEATHER AND FREQUENTLY AT NIGHT.

LEASHED DOG TRACKERS MUST TRAIN CONSTANTLY AND BE READY TO RESPOND TO A CALL AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, AND THEY DO ALL OF THIS FOR FREE.

TODD WHITAKER: WE DON'T CHARGE AT ALL.

PERSONALLY I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT AS A PAYING SERVICE.

IF THE HUNTER WANTS TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE DOG, OR IF HE'S TRAVELED A LONG WAYS AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A DONATION FOR GAS, THAT'S FINE, BUT AS FAR AS ME COMING OUT TO TRACK, WE DON'T CHARGE ANYTHING.

LAWRENCE PYNE: LESS THAN 30 MINUTES AFTER PICKING UP THE TRAIL, COOPER LED TODD TO STEVE'S DEER.

>> GOT HER!

GOT YOUR DEER RIGHT OVER HERE.

GOOD BOY.

>> AWESOME.

>> GOOD BOY.

RIGHT HERE.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, TODD.

THANKS, COOPER.

>> LOOK AT THIS, MAN.

>> GLAD TO HAVE THIS DEER.

>> THAT'S COOL.

TODD WHITAKER: THE REWARD FOR ME IS FINDING THAT DEER AND SEEING THE LOOK ON THE HUNTER'S FACE BECAUSE HE HAS LOOKED, AND LOOKED, AND LOOKED AND CAN'T FIND THE DEER.

THE DOG COMES IN, FINDS THE DEER.

THE LOOK ON HIS FACE IS PAYMENT ENOUGH.

>> EMILY, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE ARROW WENT IN ON THIS SIDE ABOUT RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE BIT... >> ANGLING DOWN.

>> ANGLING DOWN FROM THE TREESTAND WE SHOWED YOU.

AND REALLY YOU WANT TO HIT HIM RIGHT UP IN HERE.

SO YOU CAN SEE ONLY ABOUT 5 OR 6 INCHES MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

VENISON'S A BIG PART OF OUR YEARLY MEAT.

WE EAT VENISON ALL THE TIME, AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE OUT IN THE WOODS TO HARVEST DEER TO NOT LOSE DEER THAT I'VE HIT AND BRING THEM HOME.

EMILY'S BEEN ON A LOT OF HUNTING TRIPS WITH ME, BUT THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

SHE'S BEEN ON A LOT OF TEXTBOOK-TYPE RECOVERIES WHERE THE DEER'S GONE DOWN IN 60 OR 70 YARDS.

I FIGURED THIS ONE MAY NOT BE EXACTLY LIKE THAT, AND I WANTED HER TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF THE UPS AND DOWNS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTION IN TRACKING THIS DEER, AND SHE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT, WHICH WAS FUN FOR BOTH OF US.

I'M SURE WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT.

LAWRENCE PYNE: NOT EVERY CALL ENDS WITH A SUCCESSFUL FIND, BUT AS MORE HUNTERS EXPERIENCE POSITIVE RESULTS FROM LEASHED DOG TRACKING, THE WORD IS BEGINNING TO SPREAD.

>> OUR MAIN GOAL IS 30%.

ONE OUT OF THREE.

WE FIGURE IF WE CAN DO THAT, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

[DOGS BARKING] LAWRENCE PYNE: A VARIETY OF BREEDS ARE SUITABLE FOR LEASHED TRACKING.

TIM USES HIS 9-YEAR-OLD BEAGLE, MICKEY, AS WELL AS BASSETT HOUNDS.

OVER THE YEARS MICKEY HAS FOUND 127 DEER AND 1 BEAR AND TURNED A LOT OF HUNTERS' FROWNS INTO SMILES.

MOST CALLS TO LEASHED DOG TRACKERS ARE BY HUNTERS FOR RECOVERING GAME ANIMALS, BUT OCCASIONALLY THEY'RE CALLED IN TO ASSIST WARDENS IN POACHING CASES AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

>> THE PLEASURE OF DOING THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, GOD, YOU DON'T GET ANY MONEY OR ANYTHING."

WELL, WE GET DONATIONS.

AND THEY THINK, WHY DO YOU DO IT?

BUT THE FEELING THAT YOU GET FOR DOING IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: LEASHED DOG TRACKING REQUIRES A TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT FROM BOTH DOG AND HANDLER.

TODD WHITAKER: THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH COOPER IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AT HOME HE'S THE BEST FAMILY DOG.

HE'LL SLEEP ON MY BED WITH HIS HEAD ON MY CHEST.

WHEN WE GET HIM OUT IN THE WOODS AND YOU GET HIM ON A BLOOD TRAIL, HE'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DOG.

HE'S FOCUSED ON THAT TRAIL.

HE WANTS TO FIND THAT DEER AS BAD AS THE HUNTDER DOES.

IF HE DOESN'T FIND IT, IT IS JUST AS MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT TO HIM AS IT IS THE HUNTER.

TIM NICHOLS: IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF PATIENCE.

HE'S GOT TO STAY ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR DEER THROUGH ALL THE OTHER SIDE TRACKS, THE FRESH DEER, YOUR RABBITS, YOUR TURKEYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A VERY UNDERSTANDING WIFE, AND I MEAN VERY UNDERSTANDING.

AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE DEDICATION TO IT.

LAWRENCE PYNE: LEASHED DOG TRACKERS PRIDE THEMSELVES ON BEING AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK.

IN VERMONT THEY CAN BE REACHED THROUGH THE STATE POLICE OR THE LOCAL GAME WARDEN.

ALTHOUGH LEASHED DOG TRACKING RUNS COUNTER TO NORTH AMERICA'S HUNTING TRADITION, WITH EACH SUCCESSFUL FIND LEASHED DOG TRACKERS ARE HELPING PROVE THAT AT LEAST IN THIS CASE DOGS DO BELONG IN THE DEER WOODS.

>> IN 1985 A ROAD KILLED YOUNG SNAKE IN PUTNEY, VERMONT, WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN EASTERN BLACK RACER.

THESE LONG, SPEEDY SNAKES WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN EXTIRPATED FROM THE STATE DECADES AGO, BUT THAT ONE SNAKE LED TO THE EVENTUAL DISCOVERY IN 2003 OF A REMNANT POPULATION ALONGSIDE ONE OF VERMONT'S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS.

THIS RARE FIND HAS RESULTED IN A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE, ONE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ALLOW THE STATE ENDANGERED SNAKES TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL.

>> THE THING'S PRETTY CLOSE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: SINCE 1994 THE VERMONT REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY GROUP HAS BEEN GATHERING INFORMATION ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF EVERYTHING FROM SNAKES AND TURTLES TO FROGS AND SALAMANDERS.

JIM ANDREWS: WE NOW HAVE ABOUT OVER 1400 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENT IN INFORMATION TO US THAT WE HAVE USED TO HELP MAP THE DISTRIBUTION OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS.

WE'VE GOTTEN A VARIETY OF REPORTS.

WHEN WE GET A FEW REPORTS FROM ONE AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALLY ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE SPECIMINS PRETTY WELL, THEN WE LIKE TO GO THERE AND REALLY CHECK IT OUT.

LAWRENCE PYNE: HISTORICAL RECORDS, THE DISCOVERY OF A SHED SKIN, AND ANECDOTAL REPORTS LED MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE RESEARCH BIOLOGIST, JIM ANDREWS, AND A CREW OF VOLUNTEERS TO SOUTHEASTERN VERMONT WHERE THEY CAPTURED A BLACK RACER, A SNAKE THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT IN VERMONT.

>> WE'RE STANDING ON A WILDLIF MANAGEMENT AREA THAT WAS PURCHASED BY SPORTSMEN DOLLARS AND THE PREMIERE SPECIES, OF COURSE, THAT'S BEEN MANAGED HERE IS WHITETAIL DEER.

AND IT WAS JUST IN THE COURSE OF HAVING JIM ANDREWS DO A ROUTINE HERP SEARCH HERE A YEAR AGO THAT HE FOUND A RARE SPECIES THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WAS IN THE STATE ANYMORE.

AND WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED THAT THE FACT THIS IS ALREADY STATE LAND.

WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MANAGE NOT JUST THE WHITETAIL DEER, WHICH WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO, BUT ALSO A RARE SPECIES AT THE SAME TIME.

LAWRENCE PYNE: BLACK RACERS ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST SNAKES IN NORTH AMERICA.

ADULTS AVERAGE 3 TO 5 FEET IN LENGTH WITH SOME FEMALES REACHING 6 FEET.

JUVENILES ARE GRAY WITH LARGE BROWN, BLACK, OR REDDISH SPLOTCHES DOWN THE BACK.

THIS PATTERN FADES WITH AGE AND DISAPPEARS WHEN THE SNAKE REACHES ROUGHLY 25 INCHES.

>> I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY IN A GOOD LOCATION RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: BLACK RACERS UTILIZE A VARIETY OF OPEN HABITATS, INCLUDING PASTURES, ROCKY LEDGES, AND OVERGROWN FIELDS.

THE ISOLATED POPULATION IN SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT IS USING A STRIP OF CLEARED LAND UNDER A POWER LINE THAT PASSES THROUGH STATE LAND AND A PROJECTED WORK SITE FOR THE VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> NORMALLY IN THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHAT HAPPENS IS WE MOVE ALONG WITH THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ABOUT A YEAR OR SO BEFORE THE PROJECT GOES TO CONSTRUCTION WE FINALIZE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL A YEAR BEFORE CONSTRUCTION AND THEN FIND OUT WE NEE TO RECREATE NEW HABITAT FOR THIS SNAKE, AND SO WE GOT TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT BIOLOGIST, FORREST HAMMOND, AND THE NONGAME AND NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM AND SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WELL IN ADVANCE OF CONSTRUCTION SO THE NEEDS OF THE SNAKE GET MET AND THE NEEDS OF THE PROJECT GET MET.

LAWRENCE PYNE: WITH FUNDING FROM VTRANS, RESEARCHERS SURGICALLY IMPLANTED RADIO TRANSMITTERS IN TWO ADULT BLACK RACERS TO HELP DETERMINE THE YEAR-ROUND HABITAT NEEDS OF THE SNAKES.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HABITAT THAT THEY NEED UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.

IN THIS CASE FEEDING AREA, BASKING AREA, OVERWINTERING AREA.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A MOSAIC OF INTERCONNECTED HABITAT TYPES THAT ALLOW YOUR PARTICULAR SPECIES TO GET ALL ITS NEEDS MET OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

LAWRENCE PYNE: FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE STUDY THE SNAKES WILL BE MONITORED FROM A DISTANCE USING RADIO TELEMETRY, BUT ON THIS DAY THEY NEED TO BE CAPTURED TO HAVE THEIR STITCHES REMOVED.

APTLY NAMED, RACERS ARE EXTREMELY FAST, ALERT, AND HARD TO CATCH.

>> RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU GOT IT?

>> NO.

>> YOU GOT HIM?

>> I GOT HIM.

I GOT HIM.

KIND OF COME IN.

>> WHERE IS IT?

>> GOT HIM.

GOT HIM.

GOT HIM.

GOT HIM.

HA, HA.

>> TALK ABOUT A GREASED PIG.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

LAWRENCE PYNE: REACHING FOR A 6 FOOT LONG SNAKE WITH BARE HANDS MAY SEEM CRAZY, BUT THESE NONVENOMOUS SNAKES HAVE SMALL TEETH, SO EVEN WHEN THEY DO BITE, IT'S NOT MUCH MORE PAINFUL THAN BEING SCRATCHED BY A THORN.

>> SOME SPECIES OF SNAKES ALMOST NEVER TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE HANDLING THEM.

THIS ONE OFTEN WILL TRY TO DEFEND ITSELF.

SOMETIMES IF YOU STARTLE IT AT CLOSE DISTANCE, IT'LL EVEN MAKE A SHORT RUN.

IT'LL COME AT YA WITH ITS HEAD UP, AND THAT'S PRETTY DARN UNUSUAL FOR A SNAKE, AND THAT UNNERVES A LOT OF PEOPLE.

LAWRENCE PYNE: RACERS ARE THE ONLY BLACK SNAKE IN NEW ENGLAND WITH SMOOTH SCALES.

THEIR SKIN HAS A SATIN-LIKE SHEEN TO IT AND THE UNDERSIDE A SOLID GRAYISH WHITE FROM HEAD TO TAIL.

WHEN THREATENED, RACERS WILL OFTEN RATTLE THEIR TAILS WHICH IN DRY LEAVES SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLE SNAKE.

BOTH OF THE BLACK RACERS IN THE STUDY ARE MATURE MALES.

>> PART OF WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR HERE ON OUR CONTINUED VISIT IS LOOKING UNDER COVER AND MAYBE SEEING SOME EVIDENCE THAT THESE GUYS ARE ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY REPRODUCING.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME BREEDING GOING ON AND SOME SUCCESSFUL RECRUITMENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO.

THESE BIG SNAKES THAT WE HAVE, BASED ON THEIR SIZE, COULD WELL BE 15 YEARS OLD.

>> DOES THAT LOOK PRETTY GOOD, JIM?

>> THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HEALED REAL WELL.

LAWRENCE PYNE: REMOVING THE STITCHES WAS A QUICK AND SIMPLE PROCESS.

DETAILED NOTES ON THE SNAKE'S CONDITIONO CONDITION AND LENGTH WERE ALS TAKEN WHILE IT WAS IN HAND.

>> THREE FIFTEEN.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO BE INTELLIGENT MANAGERS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE FOR THIS SPECIES HERE, AND IF WE IN VERMONT DO A GOOD JOB AND ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL STATES AND PROVINCES THAT HAVE THE SPECIES DO A GOOD JOB, THEN THIS SNAKE IS NOT EVER GOING TO BECOME FEDERALLY LISTED.

IF ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL UNITS DO THEIR JOB, THIS SPECIES WILL SURVIVE.

>> WE'RE HAVING A REAL GOOD TIME WITH THIS.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE PROJECT GETS BUILT ON TIME, AND EVERYBODY IN THE AGENCY IS PRETTY ENTHUSIASTIC.

>> SNAKES DON'T ALWAYS RANK HIGH ON THE POPULARITY CHART, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE I'M JUST THRILLED AS A SCIENTIST TO SEE THAT THIS SNAKE IS GETTING ATTENTION BASED ON THE NEED THAT IT HAS RELATIVE TO OTHER SPECIES.

MARIANNE EATON: THERE IS NOTHING LIKE AN AUTUMN HIKE IN VERMONT'S GREEN MOUNTAINS.

DRINKING IN THE EXHILARATING COLORS AND FEELING THAT CRISP FALL AIR MAKES YOU FEEL AT ONE WITH NATURE, BUT IT CAN ALSO MEAN LOADS OF FOOD AND DRINK ON YOUR BACK TO SUSTAI YOU ON THE TRAIL WELL, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THA HIKE WITH THE HELP OF SOME LLAMAS FROM LINDSAY CHANDLER'S NORTHERN VERMONT LLAMA COMPANY.

ORIGINALLY FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH AMERICA, LLAMAS ARE THE PERFECT HIKING COMPANION.

SO JOIN US ON A HIKE THROUGH THE WOODS UP IN SMUGGLER'S NOTCH WITH LINDSAY AND HER LLAMAS.

>> LLAMAS ARE FROM THE HIGH ANDES MOUNTAINS IN SOUTH AMERICA AND THEY WERE BRED AS THE PACK ANIMAL DOWN THERE.

THE ANCIENT INDIANS USED THEM, AND THEY CALLED THEM THE SHIP OF THE ANDES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

THEY WERE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IN ALL PARTS OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY WERE IN THEIR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

THEY RECENTLY FOUND A TOMB WITH THE EQUIVALENT OF A PHARAOHS WITH TWO WHITE LLAMAS MUMMIFIED NEXT TO HIM, AND IF YOU COME ACROSS AN ANCIENT BURIAL SITE UP IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS, YOU'LL SEE LITTLE TINY BRONZE LLAMAS ALL IN THE ROCKS AROUND THE BURIAL SITE.

MARIANNE EATON: LINDSAY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN LLAMAS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LINDSAY CHANDLER: WHEN I WAS QUITE YOUNG, PROBABLY 2 TO 3 YEARS OLD, MY PARENTS TOOK ME TO THE CATSKILL GAME FARM IN NEW YORK.

>> I'VE BEEN THERE, YES.

>> AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PICTURES OF ME HUGGING A BABY LLAMA, SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE LITTLE WHITE ONE, AND IT WAS LOVE BACK THEN.

YOU COULDN'T FIND LLAMAS AS I GREW UP, SO I DID THE TYPICAL HORSE CRAZY GIRL THING.

>> SURE.

>> AND DID THE HORSES UNTIL I WAS IN COLLEGE, AND THEN AFTERWARDS STARTED TRYING TO FIND LLAMAS AGAIN.

EVENTUALLY WE FOUND AN AD IN THE PAPER, ONE OF THE LOCAL "BUYER'S GUIDE," AN AD FOR LLAMAS FOR SALE.

WE ENDED UP BUYING TWO.

SO THAT WAS IN 1986, AND WE STILL HAVE ONE OF THOSE FELLOWS.

HE'S GOING TO BE UP AT THE OTHER BARN.

HIS NAME IS JUSTIN.

SO WE STARTED WITH 2 AND WE'RE UP TO 31.

>> WOW.

31!

MARIANNE EATON: LINDSAY'S CHILDHOOD LOVE OF THESE RELATIVES OF THE CAMEL HAS GROWN INTO AN ADULT PASSION AND A BUSINESS.

WHILE LLAMAS ARE RENOWNED AS PACK ANIMALS, THEY ALSO PROVIDE FIBER FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS IN CLOTHING.

>> LINDSAY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH LLAMAS.

>> YES.

THEIR FIBER IS QUITE USABLE.

IT'S VERY SOFT AND ADAPTABLE TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, AND YOU CAN MAKE AMAZING DIFFERENT THINGS FROM IT.

>> AND WHAT OTHER THINGS DO YOU MAKE?

>> THESE ARE STUFFED ANIMALS.

I'VE MADE DONKEYS, BUNNIES, PENGUINS, SEALS.

>> ALL OF THE ORIGINAL LINDSAY DESIGN.

>> YES.

AND I CALL THEM LLAMA LOVEABLES.

>> OH, THAT'S GREAT.

>> THEY'RE KIND OF CHARACTURES.

THEY ALL LOOK A LITTLE SILLY.

MARIANNE EATON: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE LINDSAY WORK ON HER LLAMA LOVEABLES, BUT WE NEEDED TO GET READY FOR OUR TREK, SO IT WAS OFF TO THE KITCHEN TO PREPARE OUR TRAIL MEAL.

>> THESE ARE ALL THE CONTAINERS.

THESE WILL GO IN COOLERS WITH ICE TO KEEP IT COLD AND THEN THE LLAMAS CAN CARRY ALL THE FOOD.

>> GREAT.

>> BASICALLY IF YOU WANT TO GO IN AND JUST OPEN UP THE GATE.

JEFF, YOU DO THAT AND I'LL HERD THEM IN.

MARIANNE EATON: NEXT, WE NEEDED TO GET OUR LLAMAS READY FOR THE TREK.

WITH THE HELP OF LINDSAY'S HUSBAND JEFF, WE QUICKLY ROUNDED UP OUR BEASTS OF BURDEN.

LINDSAY CHANDLER: HERE WE GO.

COME ON.

MARIANNE EATON: AFTER A LESSON FROM JEFF, I PUT A HALTER ON ONE OF THE LLAMAS.

LINDSAY CHANDLER: INSIDE.

>> WHO'S THIS?

>> ZEKE.

>> ZEKE.

HEY, ZEKE.

HERE I AM.

HERE WE GO.

WELL, HE JUST SLIPPED RIGHT IN THERE.

GREAT.

GOOD BOY, ZEKE.

THANKS A LOT.

WE'RE GOING FOR A HIKE.

AREN'T YOU EXCITED?

COME ON.

>> WATCH THE GATE THERE.

>> I'VE GOT IT.

THERE WE GO.

MARIANNE EATON: LINDSAY AND I MET MY FRIENDS, CAROL, LISA, MICHELLE, AND NATALIE, IN THE PARKING LOT AT SMUGGLER'S NOTCH.

THERE LINDSAY TAUGHT US THE BASICS OF HANDLING A LLAMA.

>> SO THIS IS RANDY.

YOU'LL ALL GET YOUR OWN LLAMAS TO LEAD.

THEY LIKE TO BE PATTED ON THE NECKS.

A LOT OF THEM DON'T LIKE THEIR HEADS PATTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH BIG EYES.

THEY'RE TRAINED TO FOLLOW YOU SO IF I TAKE RANDY, I'M JUST GOING TO WALK AROUND, AND HE'LL FOLLOW ME.

I CAN DO A 360 AND HE'S JUST GOING TO FOLLOW RIGHT AROUND WITH ME.

OKAY?

SO THEY'RE PROBABLY EASIER TO WALK THAN YOUR DOGS.

MARIANNE EATON: WITH MY NEW COMPANION RANDY, WE HEADED OUT.

I WALKED WITHOUT A PACK YET KNEW I HAD A LUNCH TO SAVOR LATER.

BEHIND ME MY FRIENDS FOLLOWED WITH THEIR NEW LLAMA HELPERS.

COME ON, RANDY.

LINDSAY, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT MAKES THE LLAMA SUCH A GREAT PACK ANIMAL?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THEY WALK THE SAME SPEED AS WE DO, SO IF YOU'RE A HIKER, IT'S THE GREATEST ANIMAL TO JUST WALK WITH BECAUSE GENERALLY THEY WALK RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU.

>> SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF YOU OR BEHIND YOU.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GO YOUR PACE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> OKAY.

>> AND, SECONDLY, THEIR FEET MAKE LESS DAMAGE THAN OUR FEET.

THEIR TRACKS ARE SIMILAR TO DEER TRACKS, AND THEY JUST DON'T DO A LOT OF DAMAGE ON A TRAIL SUCH AS A HORSE OR A MULE WILL DO.

THEY ALSO CAN EAT ALONG THE WAY AND BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING FEED FOR THEM.

>> SO THEY'RE VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

>> YES.

HE ALSO DOESN'T LIKE TO GET AHEAD TOO FAR.

>> I SEE.

>> HE'S A GOOD LEADER.

AND I OFTEN HAVE 3-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN LEADING RANDY WHO'S THIS BIG, TALL GUY.

>> SURE.

>> AND IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH THE KIDS JUST BE IN AWE THAT THEY CAN CONTROL AND HANDLE A 300 POUND, 400-POUND ANIMAL LIKE THIS.

MARIANNE EATON: THESE 300 TO 400-POUND LLAMAS CAN CARRY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEIR WEIGHT.

LINDSAY CHANDLER: THEY ALSO WILL EAT THE GRASS DOWN, BUT THEY DON'T TEAR IT SUCH AS SOME OTHER ANIMALS DO.

THEY DON'T EAT IT UNTIL IT WON'T GROW ANYMORE, SO THEY'RE VERY GOOD FOR CLEARING LAND AND KEEPING IT NATURAL AND KEEPING IT NICE.

>> WE HAVE BANANA MUFFINS, BLUEBERRY MUFFINS, OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WHICH ARE USUALLY THE BIG SELLERS.

MARIANNE EATON: THE GOOD FOOD PROVIDED BY LINDSAY AND CARRIED BY OUR LLAMA FRIENDS WAS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE DAY.

ENJOYING THE WARM AUTUMN SUN WHILE HIKING WITH THESE CALM, QUIET ANIMALS WAS A UNIQUE WAY OF ENJOYING THE FALL WOODS.

THEIR ALOOF YET COMICAL PERSONALITIES MADE OUR TIME ON THE TRAIL FUN AND MEMORABLE.

MARIANNE EATON: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS OR ANY OTHER "OUTDOOR JOURNAL" SEGMENT, BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT VPT.ORG.

OUR SITE FEATURES CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL AS LINKS TO RELATED SITES.

LAWRENCE PYNE: YOU CAN CALL, WRITE, OR E-MAIL US, AND AS ALWAYS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

>> CAPTIONED BY GREEN MOUNTAIN CAPTIONERS, MORETOWN, VERMONT.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRAN FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT.